Emirates has become the first airline to operate an Airbus A380 demonstration flight using 100 per cent sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), instead of the standard 50 per cent fuel blend, in one of four engines.
Following ‘close cooperation’ between the carrier, SAF provider Neste, aircraft manufacturer Airbus and engine manufacturer Engine Alliance, the test flight took off on Wednesday (22 November) from Dubai International Airport.
The carrier said SAF is currently capped at a 50 per cent blend limit for commercial flights and that the ‘landmark’ flight demonstrates the performance and compatibility of SAF as a safe and reliable fuel.
The 100 per cent SAF was used in one Engine Alliance GP7200 engine, while conventional jet fuel was used in the other three engines. The aircraft’s PW980 auxiliary power unit also ran on 100 per cent SAF.
Emirates chief operating officer Adel Al Redha described the test flight as a “proud moment” and “another significant step in validating the use of SAF”.
“The growing global demand for lower-emission jet fuel alternatives is there, and the work of producers and suppliers to commercialise SAF and make it available will be critical in the coming years to help Emirates and the wider industry advance our path to lower carbon emissions,” he said.
"Sustainable aviation fuel plays a crucial role in reducing the emissions of air travel, but to fully leverage its decarbonisation potential, we need to enable the use of 100 per cent SAF,” added Jonathan Wood, vice president commercial management and business development from the Renewable Aviation business at Neste.
“Test flights like this Emirates A380 flight using Neste’s SAF are an important step towards 100 per cent SAF certification, and we applaud Emirates for its efforts to help pave the way forward,” he said.
The demonstration flight follows the recent expansion of the partnership between Emirates and Neste for the supply of more than 9,000 tonnes (3 million gallons) of blended SAF between 2024 and 2025.